No matter how sturdy a home is, sooner or later maintenance will be required. When this happens, you will have the choice to do some of this maintenance work yourself, or you could opt to utilize a home repair service to do it for you. This largely depends on how much experience you have in repairing things in your home. For example, hanging a picture on the wall does not take too much knowledge and expertise, as all you would need is a good drill and a little bit of know-how. On the other hand, if you need some major plumbing repairs, then you are better off finding a reputable plumber to do the job for you.
When it comes to painting, it really does depend on whether you have some experience and know-how, and how much you enjoy doing it. For some people, painting can be extremely therapeutic. They will gladly paint every room in their home without any fuss. For others, painting a wall can seem like an extremely messy job, and in most cases, it will be a job badly done. In a situation like this, you are better off using a professional painter.
One of the best ways to find a good quality home repair service is by going on the internet, as this allows you to quickly find a specialized repair service within your area with just a few clicks of your mouse. In addition, you are also able to do a little research on the repair service beforehand.
If you would like a local referral I keep a list of professionals. Please call or email me for more information.

Who doesn't love a fresh smelling carpet? Carpet cleaners can contain lots of unknown chemicals and can really do a job on your wallet.
Here are a few recipes for homemade carpet freshener.
Recipe #1
Ingredients:
1 cup crushed dried herbs. Use any herbs you like (rosemary, southernwood, or lavender)
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Shake well to blend.
3. Sprinkle some of the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum.
Recipe #2
Ingredients:
2 cups baking soda
Essential oil (pick your favorite scent)
2 cups lavender, buds
2 cups rosemary
1. Put 2 cups of baking soda in a glass or ceramic bowl; with the back of a metal spoon get rid of the lumps.
2. Add the essential oil (approximately 20 drops) and mix.
3. Add the lavender and rosemary, mix and then put in a plastic bag or glass container.
4 Let it sit for 2-3 days so the oil can be absorbed into the baking soda (the oil can stain the carpet if it is wet).
5. Sprinkle desired amount on the carpet, leave for a few hours then vacuum.

Just about every homeowner at some point will have a hole in the wall that needs repair. Repairing a hole in the wall can be inexpensive and easy.
The whole process should only take about 30 to 45 minutes but will need to be done over the course of a couple days.
Follow these instructions and you will be well on your way to your wall looking like new.
You will need:
• Sandpaper
• Putty knife
• Drywall patching compound (spackle or plaster)
• Wall hole patch
• Wet sponge or spray bottle
• Wall texture spray
• Paint
• Paintbrush
Directions:
1. Clear and remove loose drywall around the hole. Look inside and around the edges of the hole for pieces that are still attached.
2. Smooth the edges around the hole to create a surface the drywall patching compound can adhere to.
3. Remove the backing paper from the sticky side of the wall patch. Apply the sticky side of the patch around the edges of the hole, leaving at least a ½” on each side of the hole. Smooth the edges of the patch around the hole.
4. Apply the patching compound with a putty knife liberally around the edges of the wall patch. Work your way in from the edges before getting to the middle of the wall patch.
5. Don't finishing covering the rest of the hole until the compound is dry (about 15-20 minutes). This allows the compound to partially dry so that the wall patch does not move when applying patching compound to the center of the patch.
6. Apply compound until the entire wall patch is covered. Smooth out as much as possible. The patch will still be sanded so it doesn't need to be perfect. Allow to dry overnight.
7. Sand until smooth making sure the edges are even with the rest of the wall.
8. Wipe the area down with a wet cloth and allow it to dry for 10-15 minutes.
9. Paint as needed.
Your wall won’t look exactly like it did before but it will be close.

There are many common household items that can be used to solve everyday problems. Everyday products can be used to remove stains, fix broken items and even clean the toilet! Here are just a few things you can find around the house to fix those everyday problems:

Use Kool Aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet.

Use peanut butter to remove scratches out of CD's. Wipe off with a coffee filter paper. Don't use chunky!

Pam cooking spray will also remove paint, and grease from your hands.

Coat goggles and glasses with Colgate toothpaste to keep them from fogging.

Coca Cola will remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. It is also know to remove corrosion from car batteries.

Morton salt has been proven to remove wine stains. Pour the salt onto the wine and watch it absorb into the salt.

Listerine can be used to clean that dirty grout.

Vinegar will take care of a case of heavy dandruff.

Karo Syrup is said to get out grass stains.

Do you have any common household remedies to share? If so, please share!

When the power goes out dangers can rise. Often times there are dangers that you don't expect.
Here are some tips to keep you safe when the power goes out.
If you encounter down power lines:
Stay away from power lines they could be live.
Call 911 if a person comes in contact with a power line. Do not touch the person as the electric current could flow through you.
If your vehicle comes in contact with a power line, stay inside the car. If you must leave your car, jump clear to avoid being in contact with the car and the ground at the same time.
If you lose power in the summer:
Close drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your home.
Find an air conditioned building like a shopping mall to cool down.
Drink plenty of cool liquids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Eat light and opt for foods high in water content such as fruits, salads and soups.
Take baths and showers (water conducts heat away from the body).
If you lose power in the winter:
During the day, open your blinds to let the sun warm the space.
At night, cover windows with drapes or blankets to minimize heat loss.
Place heaters on a hard, non-combustible surface.
If the indoor temperature drops to 55 degrees F, open faucets slightly so they drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Never use a gas range or charcoal for indoor heating.
Keep a gas powered generator at least twenty feet away from your home.